Indirect compression refrigeration mechanism



Sept. 15, 1942. AR. sQuAssoNlI 2,296,122

" `I m'bnuacT coM'PREssIoN REFRIGERATION MEcHANIsM Filed Aug. e, '1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 lNvENToR. a5 5 :mi

ATTORNEY Riz zi Eri Emu sept. 15, `194:2.

' R. sQuAssoNl A 2,296,122:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rizzier' Ennasnn AT ORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1942 INDIRECT COMPRESSION REFRIGERIAIION MECHANISM Rizzeri Squassoni, Sao Paulo, Brazil Application August 8, 1941, Serial No. 403,052

In Brazil Dece 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigeration and compression mechanism, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator operating by means of an indirect pressure and wherein the combination of a centrifugal pump and an injector produces movement of the refrigerating fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide rotary compression mechanism whereby to eliminate reciprocating parts that cause shock and vibration.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an aspiration compressor wherein the pressure is produced in a continuous manner during operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aspiration compressor having an improved injector.

A still further object is the provision of a motor-driven injection compressor and wherein v the injector supports the rotor shaft of the motor for rotation about a vertical axis.

The invention also aims to provide a motordriven aspirationV compressor having improved means for cooling the motor, and wherein the heat developed by the motor is utilized to increase the pressure of the refrigerating fluid.

The invention further aims to provide a low cost refrigerator compressor that is relatively simple and occupies only a small space.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 isa View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of my improved compressor.

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of refrigerating apparatus utilizing my improved compressor.

In the drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A generally designates the refrigerator, including the compressor B, a condenser C, a refrigerating fluid receptacle D, an expansion valve E and an evaporator F.

Referring to the mechanism of the compressor B, as shown in detail in Figure l, the same is provided with a sheet metal housing I5 including a cylindrical lower portion I6 having a lubricant reservoir in its base and a semimber 24, 1939 (Cl. E30-45) spherical dome portion I1 secured thereover as by welding I8 whereby to hermetically seal the housing.

Disposed within the housing is a frame I9 comprising lower, intermediate and upper sections 2l-22, secured together as by tie-bolts V23, the upper section 22 being provided with an upright cylindrical casing 24 in the dome portion of the housing. This casing is provided in its base with an opening 25 surrounded by an annular upwardly facing bevel seat 26. Disposed in the opening 25 is a supporting member or plug 21 enlarged at its upper end to provide a shoulder 28 including an annular downwardly tapering bevel face 2S bearing against the seat 26 whereby the plug21 is supported for rotation about a vertical axis. Extending thru the plug` is an axial passageway 30 of conical shape and restricted intermediate its ends to form a venturi. The inner diameter of the casing 24 is reduced intermediate its upper and lower ends to provide an annular shoulder 3| supporting a partition 32 defining upper and lower compartments 3334. This partition is provided with an aperture 35 in which is fixed the upper end portion 36 of a downwardly tapering tubular mixing nozzle 31 terminating in a discharge end portion 38 disposed in spaced relation within the axial passageway 30 of the plug 21. At its upper end the casing 24 is closed by a cover plate 39 thru which extends a downwardly tapering pressure nozzle 40 terminating in a discharge end portion 4I disposed in spaced relation within the mixing nozzle 31. Extending from the evaporator F is a refrigerant duct 42 leading into the housing I5 and communicating with the upper compartment 33 thru a retention valve 43 leading thru the cover plate 39. Fitted in the partition 32 is a retention valve 44 permitting flow of refrigerant from the upper compartment 42 to the lower compartment 34 but preventing return flow. The plug 2'I at its lower end portion 45 is externally reduced to form a shoulder 45. Below the plug I provide a diffuser 41 of hollow disc formation and tapering toward its periphery, the interior of the disc being provided with a Vpassageway 48 between the periphery of the disc and a central intake port 49 communicating with the axial passageway 33 of the plug. The disc is centrally fastened to the lower end portion 45 of the plug as by an upright sleeve 5I) and set screw 5I. Extending downwardly from the disc is a central sleeve 52 forming a tubular socket.

Disposed within the housing is an electric motor 55 and, in the example shown, this motor is of the induction type comprising an inductor 55 and windings 51 carried by the frame portion 2| to form a stator, the windings 5l being provided with suitably insulated lead wires 58 extending thru the housing. The motor further comprises a rotor 59 and a vertical rotor shaft 6i) having a reduced upper end portion 6I secured within the diffusor sleeve 52 as by a cross pin 62. Disposed beneath the diiusor is a stationary concavo-convex disc 63 carried by the stator and having a central opening 64 thru which the diffusor sleeve 52 extends. The lower end portion of the rotor shaft 60 is, in the example shown, provided with a bushing 65 carried by the lower section 20 of the frame, and terminates in a reduced stub end 66. Removably secured'beneath the lower section 2G of the frame, as by bolts 67. is a plate 68 cooperating with the frame to form a casing for a centrifugal pump 69, the frame resting on the bolts 6T whereby the pump 69' is. disposed somewhat above the bottom of the hermetically sealed housing I5. This pump 69 comprises a hollow rotor disc I tapering toward its periphery, the interior of the disc being provided-with a passageway II betweenthe periphery ofthe disc and its center.

This disc 'I0' is centrally fastened to the rotor shaft at itsy reduced stub end 65 as by an 'upright sleeve 72 sweated or otherwise secured in encircling relation to the stub end. Extending downwardly from the disc is a central sleeve 'I3 extending thru the plate 68Y and forming an intake port Illl communicating with the passageway TI. Formed in the lower section of the frame andi encircling the rotary disc is an annular passageway 15, communicating with a :duid outlet duct 'IIi This duct T6 discharges into a tubular conduit 1.1 leading to the pressure nozzle 4E at the upper end ofthe housing. It will be noted that the plug 2'I'not only seals the compartment 34A but also serves to support the rotor 59 of the electric motorl and the rotary disc 'ID of the centrifugal pump for rotation about a vertical axis aligning with the longitudinal axes of the injector nozzles 31 and 40. The housing I5 is connected at its dome portion to the condenser C by a pressure conduit 8D to complete the refrigerant circuit thru the compressor B, condenser C, receptacle D, expansion valve E and evaporator F.

In order to operate the refrigerator, the reservoir'in. the lower portion I6 of the housing I5 is filled' with oil up to the level 81 whereby the pump 69 is immersed therein. Sufcient sulphurous refrigerant liquid to fill the container D is then deposited therein. This liquid which develops a gas pressure of 60 to 70 pounds at ordinary temperature, will expand andv ll the condenser C and the interior of the housing I with gas.

Upon connecting the motor 55 to a source of current, the centrifugal pump 69 will impell oil from the reservoir thru the conduit TI into the pressure nozzle 4) of the injector. This produces a vacuum in the casing 24 which extends thru the aspiration pipe 42 and into the evaporator F. Due to the circulation of oil thru the mechanism of the aspiration compressor, the temperature within the housing I5 will become higher. The operation of the motor will also increase the temperature within the housing I5. The heating of the refrigerating gas within the housing I5 will increase its pressure and this new pressure will extend along the pressure conduit 89 to the condenser C, the container D and the expansion valve sealed housing having E. This valve, having been previously set to retain only the initial pressure, will open rather than resist the new and stronger pressure. Under these conditions, a part of the refrigerant fluid in a liquid condition will run from the container D into the evaporator F, in which there is a relative vacuum produced by the aspiration of the injector, thus causing expansion of the refrigerating liquid into gas and a sudden fall in temperature in the evaporator. The cold gas is aspirated by the injector and reintroduced into the compressor housing I5 where it receives new heat to repeat the cycle already described.

In the running of the cold refrigerating gas and the heated oil thru the injector, the gas and oil are mixed and the contact between the two brings about an exchange of heat, the refrigerating gas being heated simultaneously with a cooling of the oil. The mixture thrown from the diffusor becomes separated immediately, the refrigerating gas rising and the more or less chilled oil flowing downwardly over the motor windings 57 to the reservoir in the bottom of the housing. The disc 63 prevents the falling of oil onto the rotor 59. In flowingV over the motor windings 51, an exchange of heat takes place, the oil absorbing heat from the windings whereby to prevent overheating of the motor. The oil used in the apparatus should of course be free from moisture. While I have described the operation of the apparatus with sulphurous refrigerating fluid and oil, it will be understood that the mechanism will operate with any two fluids not having chemical affinity between themselves.

Various changes may be made in the apparatus, system and method of operation herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In compression mechanism, a hermetically sealed housing having a reservoir for lubricating liquid in its base, a frame in the housing, a supporting member carried by the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, said supporting member being provided with an axial passageway constituting a venturi, a nozzle directed into said passageway for introducing a stream of lubricating liquid into said venturi, a fluid conduit communicating with said venturi and said nozzle for the induction of fluid into said Venturi under the influence of said stream of lubricating liquid, a motor including a stator carried by the frame and a rotor including a vertical shaft, said rotor shaft carried by said supporting member, and a rotary pump connected to the rotor shaft for supplying said nozzle with liquid from said reservoir.

2. In compression mechanism, a hermetically sealed housing having a reservoir for lubricating liquid in its bottom, an aspirator for inducing a compressible fluid into the housing, a pump for feeding a stream of said liquid to the aspirator for operating the aspirator, a motor in the housing for operating the pump, and means for diffusing said iluid and said liquid from the aspirator to a zone above the motor, whereby said liquid will separate from said fluid and whereby at least part of said liquid will, in returning to said reservoir under the influence of gravity, flow over portions of said motor so as to absorb excess heat therefrom.

3. In compression mechanism, a hermetically a reservoir for lubricating liquid in its bottom, a frame in the housing, a

Ving with said venturi supporting member carried by the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, said supporting member being provided with an axial passageway restricted intermediate its ends to form a venturi, a Anozzle directed into said passageway for introducing a stream of lubricating liquid into said venturi, a fluid conduit communicatand said nozzle for the induction of fluid into said venturi under the influence of said stream of lubricating liquid, a motor including a stator carried by the frame and a rotor including a vertically disposed shaft, a rotary diffusor connected between and for rotation with the supporting member and the rotor shaft for delivering said fluid and said liquid from the venturi to a zone above the motor, and a rotary pump connected to the rotor shaft for supplying said nozzle with liquid from said reservoir.

4. In compression mechanism, a hermetically v sealed housing including a base portion constituting a reservoir for lubricating liquid, an aspirator in the housing including an induction conduit extending thru the housing for introducing a compressible fluid to the aspirator,

means for actuating said aspirator including a motor, and an impeller operated by the motor to supply said aspirator with said lubricating liquid, said motor being disposed within said housing superjacent the reservoir and said imf peller having an intake portion disposed within the reservoir, and means positioned above the motor for diffusing said lubricating liquid and said compressible fluid upon discharge from the aspirator, whereby separate from said compressible fluid and whereby at least part of said lubricating liquid will, in returning to said reservoir under the influence of gravity, flow over portions of said motor so as to absorb excess heat therefrom.

5. In compression mechanism, a hermetically sealed housing including a base portion constituting a reservoir for lubricating uid, a frame in the housing, provided with :a casing in the upper portion of the a base portion provided with an opening, a plug disposed in said opening and supported for rotation about a vertical axis, said plug being provided with an axial passageway, a nozzle having a discharge end portion directed toward said axial passageway, a conduit for supplying a compressible fiuid to the casing, a diifusor having an intake portion, said diffusor being connected to the plug for rotation about saidvertical axis with the passageway of the plug communicating e with the intake portion of the diiusor, a motor including a stator carried b'y the frame and a rotor having a rotor shaft arranged to rotate about said vertical axis, said shaft being connected at its upper end portion to the diffusor, l

and means for supplying lubricating iiuid to the nozzle including an impeller connected to the rotor shaft at its lower end portion and having an intake portion disposed in said lubricant reservoir.

6. In compression mechanism, a hermetically sealed housing including a base portion constituting a reservoir for lubricating liquid, an aspirator in the housing including an induction conduit extending thru the housing for introducing a compressible fluid to the aspirator, means for actuating said aspirator including a motor and an impeller operated by the motor to supply said aspirator with said lubricating liquid, said motor being disposed within said said lubricating liquid will housing, said casing having r housing superjacent the reservoir and saidim- 'peller having an intake portion disposed within the reservoir, and a rotary diffusor operated by the motor for diffusing said lubricating liquid and said compressible fluid upon discharge of said liquid and said fluid from the aspirator, said diffusor being positioned above the motor, whereby said lubricating liquid will separate from said compressible fluid and whereby at least part of said lubricating liquid will, in returning to said reservoir under the influence of gravity, flow over portions of said motor so as to absorb excess heat therefrom.

7. In compression mechanism, a hermetically sealed housing including a base portion constituting a reservoir for lubricating fluid, a frame in the housing and provided with a casing in the upper portion of the housing, said casing having a base portion provided with an opening, a plug disposed in said opening and supported for rotation about a vertical axis, said plug being provided with an axial passageway restricted intermediate its ends, said casing being provided with a partition defining upper and lower compartments, said partition being provided with an aperture, a tubular mixing nozzle having one end portion tted within the aperture, said nozzle extending downwardly and terminating in a downwardly tapering discharge end portion disposed in spaced relation within the axial passageway of said plugma pressure nozzle extending downwardly into the casing and having a downwardly tapering discharge end portion disposed in spaced relation within said mixing nozzle, a conduit for supplying la compressible uid to the upper compartment of the casing, means to prevent return flow of said fluid from the casing to the conduit, said partition being provided with a port for the passage of fluid from said upper compartment to said lower compartment, means to prevent return flow of said fluid from the lower compartment to the upper compartment, a diffusor having lan intake portion, said diffusor being connected to the plug for rotation about said vertical axis with the passageway of the plug communicating with the intake portion of the diifusor, a motor including a stator carried by the frame and a rotor having a rotor shaft arranged to rotate about said vertical axis, said shaft being connected at `its upper end portion to the diffusor, and means for supplying lubricating fluid to the pressure nozzle including an impeller connected to the rotor shaft at its lower end portion and having an intake portion disposed in said lubricant reservoir.

8. In mechanism of the character described, a frame provided with a casing at its upper end, said casing having a base portion provided with an opening, a plug disposed in said opening and supported for rotation about a vertical axis, said plug being provided with an axial passageway, a nozzle having a discharge end portion directed toward said axial passageway, a fluid aspiration conduit communicating with the casing, a diffusor having an intake portion, said diifusor being connected to the plug for rotation about said vertical axis with the passageway of the plug communicating with the intake portion of the diffusor, a motor including a stator carried by the frame and la rotor having a rotor shaft arranged to rotate about said vertical axis, said shaft being connected at its upper end portion to the diffusor, and means for supplying a motive fluid to the nozzle including an impeller connected to the rotor shaft at its lower end portion.

9. In refrigeration apparatus, a hermetically sealed housing, a refrigerant duct and a motive fluid duct having a common passageway in said housing, said passageway being provided with an aspirator for inducing refrigerant into said housing upon the ow of iiuid thru the uid duct, and means for impelling said fluid thru the uid duct and heating said fluid including a' motor disposed within the housing and in the path of travel of said fluid.

10. In refrigeration apparatus, a hermetically sealed housing having a motive fluid reservoir in its base portion and an upper refrigerantcontaining portion, a motive uid duct leading from said reservoir, a refrigerant duct leading to said refrigerant-containing portion, said refrigerant duct and said motive fluid duct having a common passageway in said housing, said passageway being provided with an aspirator for inducing refrigerant intosa-id housing upon the flow of fluid thru the uid duct, and means for impelling said fluid thru the fluid duct including a motor .and a pump disposed within the housing, said passageway being arranged to discharge said refrigerant and said motive fluid above the motor, whereby said motive fluidl will, in returning to the reservoir, flow over portions of said motor and pump for cooling and lubricating purposes, and whereby said motive fluid will trans-fer heat to the refrigerant so as to increase the pressure of the refrigerant.

11. In refrigeration apparatus, a hermetically sealed housing having a motive uid reservoir in its base portion and an upper refrigerantcontaining portion, a motive fluid duct leading from said reservoir, a refrigerant duct leading to said refrigerant-containing portion, said refrigerant duct and said motive uicl duct having a common passageway in said housing, said passageway being provided with an aspirator for inducing refrigerant into said housing upon the now of iiuid thru the fluid duct, means for impelling uid thru the fluid duct including a motor and a pump disposed within the housing, and means driven by said motor for diffusing said refrigerant and said motive fluid issuing from said passageway in a zone above said m'otor and pump, whereby said motive fluid will separate from said refrigerant and will, in returning to the reservoir, flow over portions of said motor and pump for cooling and lubricating purposes, and whereby said motive uid will transfer hea-t acquired from said motor and pump to the refrigerant in said common passageway so as to increase the pressure of the refrigerant in the housing.

RIZZIERI SQUASSONI. 

